Sun King beer honoring former Purdue basketball coach Gene Keady to be released Oct. 18

Posted by author October 8, 2024 Basketball

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LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Fans of Purdue Men’s Basketball, Gene Keady and beer won’t have to wait much longer to get their hands on a can of Sun King Brewery’s newest brew in the legendary coach’s honor.

The new beer named “Play Hard Lager,” was crafted to embody the spirit of teamwork and resilience that Keady instilled in his players and fans alike, a Sun King Brewery news release said. The lager is noted to have a “perfect balance of malt sweetness and hop character,” making it the ideal companion for any Boilermaker gathering.

The can’s logo features the iconic black and gold color scheme alongside Keady’s signature and a classic caricature depiction of Keady at the height of his coaching era donning a black suit and a gold tie.

In a statement provided to the Journal & Courier by a Sun King spokesperson, Keady said he thanks the brewery for collaborating with him on the Play Hard Lager and that he looks forward to a great partnership.

Dave Colt, co-founder and owner of Sun King Brewery based out Indianapolis, said the beer will be available in four-packs beginning Oct. 18 in Sun King tap rooms and local retailers throughout Indiana.

“We wanted to create a beer that reflects the passion and hard work that Coach Keady brought to the court,” Colt said in the release. “This special beer release is a tribute to Coach Keady’s legacy and is perfect for every Boilermaker fan out there.”

Indiana state Sen. Ron Alting said in the release that when he was approached to help come up with a beer in Keady’s honor, one of his priorities was to recognize the coach’s history and coaching mantra of playing hard.

“Coach Gene Keady is arguably the greatest basketball coach in Purdue’s storied history,” Alting said. “The Play Hard Lager is a fantastic tasting beer that exemplifies Coach Keady’s dedication to winning and will be a great souvenir to Purdue basketball fans.”

Jillian Ellison is a reporter for the Journal and Courier. She can be reached via email at jellison@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ellison_writes.